His message was heard even in the Ministry of Higher Education. Posted a few days ago, the video of Maëlle, a 20-year-old student, went viral and was viewed more than 8 million times on TikTok. Through tears, she talks about her precarious situation, in particular because she only lives on a scholarship of €100 a month.
Sylvie Retailleau, Minister for Higher Education chose to respond to her and all students in difficulty, through a video posted on social media. “Like Maëlle, I know many of you students are already wondering how you will end the month,” she says.
“Too often you have to deal with precariousness while preparing for your future, which is also our future,” continues the minister.
The emergency response “does not erase the underlying problems”
Sylvie Retailleau, “determined to help” the students, recalled the measures taken since she took office: increase in the APL, revaluation of scholarships by 4%, freezing of Crous income or even keeping meals at €1 for precarious students.
The minister acknowledges, however, that this emergency response “does not erase the underlying problems” and also announces a “national and territorial consultation on student life”.
The Minister specifies that this consultation “of course will also include the issue of scholarships” and that “all the territories, including the Overseas Territories, will be associated with it”. She thus responds directly to the case of Maëlle, who has seen her scholarship decrease because her parents now live in Mayotte and benefit from economic aid to offset the high cost of living on the island.
A prize pool of €14,000
Sylvie Retailleau also encourages students to contact the Crous in case of difficulty. “I insist, do not stay isolated and helpless without contacting the Crous. Their teams are there for you. Maëlle has been offered to benefit from emergency aid again, ”she says in her video.
“What needs to be done for Maëlle, the Crous teams do it daily for those who need it”, adds the minister.
In her video posted on TikTok, the 20-year-old student, however, recounted her obstacle course to benefit from emergency aid from the Crous. In a show of solidarity, Internet users opened an online kit to help him and more than €14,000 were raised in a few hours.
Source: BFM TV
